PORTLAND, OR – An Oregon judge sentenced a 47-year-old woman to 10 years in prison for the prolonged abuse and torture of a young girl under her care.
Larissa Danielle Ducan admitted guilt to two counts of criminal mistreatment and one count of assault. Her partner, Javon Markquez Ingram, had already been sentenced to 15 years in prison earlier this year for four counts of assault and two counts of criminal mistreatment; Ingram will remain incarcerated until at least 2036, according to the state’s Department of Corrections.
The harrowing case came to light in November 2021 when the girl, then just five years old, was admitted to Randall Children’s Hospital in Portland. Officials found her severely malnourished and covered with numerous injuries, per Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt. Barely weighing 30 pounds, the child bore various signs of abuse, prompting a child abuse pediatrician to classify her condition as torture.
The girl’s injuries were extensive, including open sores, thumb and pelvic fractures, brain hemorrhages, and clear evidence of physical restraints, concluded Schmidt. She had also been blindfolded and gagged during her captivity.
According to reports, the girl conveyed to the hospital staff that she had been tied to a door in a loft, forced to wear a dog shock collar, and not properly potty trained. Her abusers used a blender to puree her food, demonstrating the extent of control and mistreatment.
Further investigations by Portland Police Bureau detectives uncovered evidence at the homes where she lived, including zip ties, duct tape, and a dog shock collar. Ingram’s phone contained nearly 30 videos documenting the girl’s bondage with duct tape and her forced exercise routines.
During his confession, Ingram told investigators, “I could say tied her up, and say put a dog collar on her. I mean, I don’t know what else to do, dude, [because] I don’t have an answer for you.”
In court, Ducan’s attorney argued that she was under the influence of drugs and alcohol, taking a “more passive” role in the abuse. Ducan herself chose not to address the court.
Following these events, the girl, now eight years old, has been placed in the custody of another guardian. Her family subsequently filed a lawsuit against Oregon’s Department of Human Services (DHS), alleging that the agency failed to act on reports of the abuse. While a DHS spokesperson declined to comment on the lawsuit, they emphasized the existence of a 24-hour crisis hotline and affirmed the agency’s commitment to investigating any claims that meet legal criteria.
